China has issued its first batch of pilot licenses for domestically made airships, marking a key milestone in the country’s effort to develop its emerging low-altitude aviation industry and build a self-sustaining training system for lighter-than-air aircraft operations. The licenses were granted on Wednesday by the Civil Aviation Administration of China to four pilots trained by the Special Vehicle Research Institute under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China
, according to information shared on Thursday.
The newly certified pilots completed more than 400 takeoffs and landings and passed all required evaluations before receiving authorization to operate China’s domestically developed Xiangyun AS700. Their certification marks the first time China has produced a group of fully trained airship pilots within its own domestic training system, a development officials described as a foundational step toward independent and scalable airship operations.
The AS700 airship, developed for multiple civilian applications, is designed for use in areas such as low-altitude tourism, emergency rescue, aerial surveying, urban infrastructure monitoring, and patrol operations. Industry representatives say the platform reflects China’s broader strategy of integrating aviation technology into commercial and public service functions at lower altitudes, where airspace is less congested and operational costs can be reduced compared with traditional aviation.
According to AVIC, the achievement signals a shift from reliance on external training resources to a fully localized talent pipeline for airship operations. Officials said this establishes a technical and institutional base for the long-term development of China’s airship sector, while supporting the broader expansion of the country’s low-altitude economy.
The institute behind the program reported that the AS700 has already received 44 orders. Given that each airship requires an estimated two to three pilots for safe and continuous operations, the rollout of commercial services is expected to generate strong demand for trained personnel. This demand is likely to increase further as China continues to expand investment in low-altitude aviation infrastructure and services.
The first group of licensed pilots is also seen as addressing a key bottleneck in the sector: equipment development has progressed faster than workforce training, creating a shortage of qualified operators. Officials involved in the program said the new certification pipeline will help bridge that gap and support the transition toward large-scale commercial deployment of airship technology.
Looking ahead, the research institute plans to expand pilot and instructor training programs, recruit additional candidates, and develop a standardized curriculum. It also aims to establish China’s first dedicated airship flight school, intended to formalize training standards and align pilot development more closely with growing industrial demand.
The regulatory and industrial push comes as China accelerates its broader strategy for the low-altitude economy. The Civil Aviation Administration of China estimates that the sector reached a market size of 1.5 trillion yuan (about $220 billion) in 2025 and could surpass 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035, reflecting strong expectations for growth in drones, air mobility, and related aviation services.
Beijing has also identified the low-altitude economy as a priority area in its industrial planning, alongside sectors such as aerospace, semiconductors, and new materials. Lawmakers have additionally revised China’s Civil Aviation Law to strengthen regulatory frameworks and explicitly support the development of civil aviation manufacturing and low-altitude operations, signaling long-term institutional backing for the sector’s expansion.
